Via @WhosYourTiger

Or something like that. Really, I’m just excited whenever I can combine three of my favorite things into one post. Such is the case with this post actually. Because — are you ready — Ndamukong Suh (favorite thing No. 1) of the Detroit Lions (favorite thing No. 2) decided to take in a Detroit Tigers (favorite thing No. 3) game this afternoon.

Excuse me while my head explodes with excitement!

And lo and behold, the Tigers won! Certainly it had to be because Suh was there. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that Justin Verlander was pitching. Or the fact that he’s now won eight of his last nine starts. Or the fact that he’s superhuman. Nope, it was because Suh was there. Clearly.

Regardless, Verlander was actually the one who hooked Suh up with the tickets.

All week on Twitter Verlander has been trying to get people to vote for Tigers catcher Alex Avila to be a starter in the All-Star Game. Suh helped him out be retweeting the link to vote for Avila, and it seems Verlander repaid Suh by hooking him up with tickets to today’s game.

Not too shabby. Hey, Verlander, what gives? I retweeted your link too. Where the heck are my tickets?

Oh that’s right. I’m not an adorably cute — or frighteningly intimidating, depending on who you ask — defensive tackle with the Detroit Lions. I completely understand how I may have been overlooked here. I forgive you.

Anyway, it does warm my heart when athletes support their city’s fellow athletes. There was so much Detroit goodness in one place today. I shall sleep soundly.

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

According to ex-Lion Lomas Brown, the answer is yes. When interviewed recently at Derrick Williams-Charlie Villanueva celebrity softball game, Brown said he thinks Backus is a very good left tackle but has the potential to be an “All-Pro” lineman.

“I’ve always said that I thought if Jeff played the inside position, played the guard position, I feel that the guy’s an All-Pro guy,” former Lion Lomas Brown said recently at the Derrick Williams-Charlie Villanueva celebrity softball game. “I really do. I think he’s a very good tackle, but I think he could be an All-Pro interior lineman.”

Does Brown know what he’s talking about? On one hand, the old saying, “It can’t hurt,” seems fitting. After all, Backus was recently left off ESPN’s top 10 left tackles list, so the idea of  moving him to the interior might not be so crazy. On the other hand, however, do we really want to move a guy who’s only ever known one position?

The problem I see is this: How good will Backus be when he’s uprooted from a position he’s played since day one? He’s played 10 seasons at left tackle, and every indication is that he’ll play an 11th. But Brown also believes Backus could potentially lengthen his career if he moves to the inside.

“At the left tackle position, you have to have long arms and be a longer guy to keep the guys away from you, and Jeff isn’t built like that,” Brown said. “He’s built more like a guard. And to me, you have to give him credit for what he’s been able to do throughout the years playing with a disadvantage like that at that position. I played it for a lot of years, and I know what it takes and what you need to have out there, so I give him a lot of credit. He’s gotten better and better.”

I think there’s a possibility we’ll see Backus as a guard in the future, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. He’s certainly not the best or worst LT in the league, but either way, I don’t think the Lions have anyone better to put there at this point.

As strange as it sounds to say — and even though all the Backus haters will disagree — the Lions can’t afford to move Backus right now — or maybe ever.

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

Since stories like these are fun — and because there is zero news right now, I’m going to tell you a little bit about the youth football camp held at Ford Field Tuesday.

Former Lions linebacker Richard Jordan was a guest speaker to the more than 100 attendees ages 6 to 14 that participated in the camp, which runs June through August.

“We want to teach them character traits of the game such as goal-setting, accountability and passion,” camp director Chris Fritzsching said. “And, we’re going up to the U.P. to convert turn some Packers and Bears fans into Lions fans.”

That Chris Fritzching fellow is a funny guy. Though I imagine half their goal is to turn these kids into Lions’ fans. Can’t be an easy task after all.

I’m only partly kidding.

As the guest speaker, Jordan told the kids to never let anyone tell them they’re too small or not good enough.

“If you got a goal and believe you can accomplish it, you can do it,” Jordan told the campers. “Some of you guys are small, but don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.

“I played with one of the smallest players in the world, Barry Sanders. You know how many people told him he was too small?”

Everyone all at once: Awwwwwwww.

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

4-3 Coverage: Your daily dish on Detroit news. Four Lions articles, three NFL articles — all in one place.

Lions headlines:

• Detroit Lions to “make a big play” for Nnamdi Asomugha? — Pride of Detroit, Sean Yuille
• Would Backus benefit from a position change? — Football News Now, Kristopher Fiecke
• Detroit Lions: The most overrated and underrated player at each position. — Bleacher Report, Dean Holden
• The Detroit Lions can win with this secondary. — SideLion Report, Ace Anbender

NFL headlines:

• As bills pile up and appellate decision looms, NFL owners have incentive to settle. — Winnipeg Free Press, Nancy Armour
• Former OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor explains reasons for leaving school. — newsnet5.com, Garrett Downing
• NFL owners begin labor meeting. — Bloomberg Businessweek, Barry Wilner

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

Detroit selected Georgia Tech's Johnson second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. (By Brooke Novak via Wikimedia Commons)

On Sunday, the NFL Network continued its 100 best players of 2011 series, announcing the second Detroit Lions’ player to make the list.

WR Calvin Johnson finished — to most — a disappointing 27th overall. Ndamukong Suh was announced a couple weeks ago at No. 51.

Head coach Jim Schwartz was the presenter, saying:

“Even when (Johnson) is covered, he’s still open. The defensive back can be in perfect position and Calvin will take the ball right off his head.”

We all knew Johnson would make the list, but I think we also all knew — or so we thought– he would break the top 25 at least. Schwartz said it best when he described how Johnson is open even when he’s not.

He’s a beast. His size alone makes him a huge threat down field. And that’s not even bringing to light his speed, agility, and leaping ability.

Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that he’s extraordinarily good looking. Which, I’m sorry, should be a determining factor in rating these players. I’m just sayin’. » Continue reading “Calvin Johnson Named 27th Best Player of 2011″

I hope all you dads out there had a wonderful Father’s Day. You certainly deserve it. After all, (and no offense to the moms) but 90 percent of children probably got their sports obsessions from their fathers.

Don’t get me wrong, my mom is certainly a lover of sports. But I can tell you for certain, the stories my dad has told me about sneaking the radio under his pillow to listen to the Tigers’ games when he was young, are part of the reason I have such passion for sports today.

I wouldn’t live and breathe sports like I do if it weren’t for spending countless hours on the softball field, having nearly every family vacation revolve around a sporting event, and watching sports on the tube like it was my family’s job.

My dad is one of the most shy and reserved people you’ll ever meet. Until, of course, the Tigers’ relievers blow a 3-run lead in the bottom of the ninth or the Wolverines lose their 7th straight game to Ohio State or the Lions lose … well he’s used to the Lions losing by now, but you get my drift. In other words, I learned curse words from watching my dad watch sports. And I absolutely love him for it. » Continue reading “Happy Father’s Day from the Detroit Lions”

via @Ndamukong_Suh

As evidence by the severe lack of postage (not postage of the mail variety but of the lack of posting variety) in the last few days, you can probably see that there’s very little happening in the world of the Detroit Lions. So I have just a few short, minor updates.

How excited have I made you to read this? I’m sure you’re stoked. So, here goes.

• Ndamukong Suh enjoyed the opening weekend of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. He tweeted this Saturday “Yo #SuhSquad , what r yall doin on this beautiful Saturday?! I think I might check out the #CWS today!! #HUSKERS #Omaha” And of course, while he was there, Suh did what Suh does best. He took a picture of himself … with a picture of himself. He’s everywhere I tell you. EVERYWHERE!

• ESPN released its annual Ultimate Standings, which “measure how much MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises give back to the fans in exchange for all the time, money and emotion the fans invest in them.” Unfortunately, I don’t get ESPN The Magazine. But fortunately, other people do, so they’re going to help me out with this one. » Continue reading “Lions’ Droppings: News, Notes and Nonsense”

But is the feeling mutual? Should it be mutual?

With an end to the lockout looking more and more promising, teams and free agents are readying themselves for potential acquisitions in the near future. And for the second year in a row, linebacker Keith Bulluck could be in the possibility pile for the Lions.

On SiriusXM NFL radio on Monday, Bulluck said he was interested in playing his 12th NFL season with either the Detroit Lions, the New York Giants or the New England Patriots. And with the Lions obvious holes at the LB position, Bulluck may be one of the more attractive free agent options.

“Detroit. I like what Schwartz is doing up there. Last year, I wasn’t prepared physically to play and do the things that they would need me to do, but now I feel I am. New England is always veteran-friendly, and I know, every year, they’re in contention of winning.

“Like I say, I want to win, really. At this point in my career, financially, me and my family are fine. But I definitely would like to be in a position to play myself into maybe possibly being one of the top-paid linebackers in the league again. Definitely one of the top players in the league.”

It was that desire to win that somewhat deterred Bulluck’s interest away from the Lions last season. And it’s left some Lions fans with a sour taste in their mouth. Me? I say so what. » Continue reading “LB Keith Bulluck Interested in Detroit”

I may have a cure for the offseason cold. Madden 12, ya’ll.

Let’s be honest. The offseason is long. And since no one can really answer the “Will there be a 2011 season?” question, we have to find things to fill our football void. Now, I’m probably the furthest thing there is from a video game junkie, but I can appreciate a good thing when I see it.

Of the requests EA Sports received for what footage they would like to see on the game, there was a lot of requests for the Detroit Lions’ defensive line. It makes sense. People are eager to see Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and Kyle Vanden Bosch do work — regardless of whether it’s actually real or not.

Check out this video of the Lions’ defensive line on Madden 12:

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

4-3 Coverage: Your daily dish on Detroit news. Four Lions articles, three NFL articles — all in one place.

Lions headlines:

• 8 Detroit Lions facing make-or-break seasons in 2011. — Bleacher Report, Dean Holden
• Detroit Lions players happy with temporary home at Country Day. — Birmingham Patch, Mike Niziolek
• On Suh, players-only workouts, criticism. — ESPN, Kevin Seifert
• Detroit Lions hope cornerback Nathan Vasher returns to early form. — MLive.com, Tom Kowalski

NFL headlines:

• To avoid real problems, NFL and NBA can’t be consumed by greed. — Miami Herald, David J. Neal
• Inside the NFL: Terrelle Pryor is too tempting to pass on in supplemental draft. — MercuryNews.com, Jerry McDonald
• McGinest not exploring a return to NFL. –Yahoo! Sports

You can find me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.